In the first period both teams looked to be feeling each other out like two heavy-weight boxers getting ready for a long matchup. Matt Anderson and Toter both feeling the pressure from both offenses as they were asked to make big saves early on. The Grizzlies got that all important first goal with 15:28 left in the first period of a rebound shot from the face off. The Bulldogs looked to counter, but the Grizzlies defense would not budge. The Grizzlies defense finally gave in as Logan Blackwell sent a pass up to linemate Ryan Bachman who beat Toter stick side and even up the game at 1-1. The Bulldogs penalty kill went to work early as the Bulldogs were called for interference. The Bulldogs would not let the Grizzlies set up their power play clearing the puck, but the Grizzlies were able to get a shot off from the point and a deflection beat Anderson five-hole for the Grizzlies 2-1 lead.

A short time later the Bulldogs would get their own power play and they would pull even with a goal from Spencer Bonomo who scored his fourth goal of the tournament off of a pass from Darrell Boldon as Bonomo was sitting on the door step with a one-timer. The penalty kill was asked to answer the call again, but the Bulldogs couldn't stay out of the box and now found themselves in a 5-on-3 situation. They killed the 5-on-3 put let in a goal on the 5-on-4 power play as the Grizzlies found the net once again for the 3-2 lead. The penalty kill again had to go to work, but with the Grizzlies firing on all cylinders the Bulldogs needed to stay out of the box as two of the three Grizzlies' goals were on the power play. The Bulldogs were finally able to kill the penalty and start the counter. The first period would end with the Grizzlies on top 3-2.

The Bulldogs started to turn up the pressure in the second as they looked to control the puck and the physical play. It would pay off as they would earn a power play early in the second period. The Bulldogs had their opportunities but were unable to get a goal. The Bulldogs again found themselves on the penalty kill, and with the Grizzlies power play firing on all cylinders the question is can the Bulldogs defense hold up? The Bulldogs were able to kill the penalty, but the Grizzlies continued to pressure the net. The Bulldogs would earn another power play off of a tripping call, and the Grizzlies defense would have to hold up. The Bulldogs soon would find themselves with a 5-on-3 power play for 45 seconds. The Grizzlies would kill the 5-on-3, but still have to kill off a 5-on-4. The Grizzlies wouldn't have to skate a man down for long as the Bulldogs could not stay out of the box and the Grizzlies would make them pay as they scored their fourth goal of the game to take a 4-2 lead. The Grizzlies released their man from the box and were skating a man up for another power play and they continued to make the Bulldogs pay with another power play goal giving them a 5-2 lead. The Bulldogs got another power play opportunity and the Bulldogs would cash in on this in just seven seconds cutting the lead to 5-3. The Bulldogs penalty kill was getting a work out as they were back on the ice again for another penalty. The penalty kill was able to keep the Grizzlies out of the net and would end the period down 5-3.

The Bulldogs started the third and final period down 5-3 and they would need to put in some hard tough work if they were going to come out with a victory. The Bulldogs earned a power play early in the period and the Grizzlies defense was bending, but hadn't broken just yet. The Bulldogs had their chances but were unable to hit the net as the Grizzlies killed the power play. The Bulldogs started to turn up the pressure and continued their physical play. The Grizzlies goalie Matt Toter continued to make big saves as the Bulldogs started to pressure the net. The Bulldogs really started to fire at the net, but the Grizzlies continued to play great team defense. With just over two minutes left in the period the Grizzlies got called for a tripping penalty giving the Bulldogs a power play opportunity. With just over a minute to go the Bulldogs pulled Anderson for the extra skater, and it payed off as they were able to beat Toter on the power play with 29 seconds remaining scored by Darrell Boldon. The Bulldogs were unable to pull even as the Grizzlies escaped with a 5-4 win against the Bulldogs.